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A few notes about the Contraception Mandate and the Catholic Church

By: montani (Diary)  |  February 26th, 2012 at 01:12 AM  | 

RESIZE: AAA

There are a lot of opinions on the Contraception Mandate and a few things need to be said both to hearten Catholics and to explain to non-Catholics.

First for the Catholics, do not worry.  The Catholic Church has been going strong for 2000 years surviving and defeating the likes of Roman emperors, Islamic invaders and Communist dictators.  Obama doesn’t stand a chance.  We’ll come back to this later.

For the non-Catholics, understand that the Church is experienced in these matters.  It is patient and has its goal firmly in mind and that goal is serving Christ.  I know it’s frustrating in this day and age that the Bishops aren’t on TV talking and debating their opponents.  There is no debate.  They will not comply.  Publicly debating the point would simply alienate people and harden hearts.  They will not push away anyone from the faith except when by doing so it serves Christ.  That is truly rare.  It sees itself as the church of all men and women, from the businessman to the street walker, from the anarchist to the statist, from the citizen to the President.  It does not entice its members to join with the best preachers, the biggest halls or just one way of expressing faith.  It sees itself as focused up to God and not down into the pews.  It does not measure its legitimacy by the makeup of its congregation.  The Catholic Church is catholic (all encompassing) and this does not just mean that it sees itself as encompassing all churches but all people too.

The Obama administration’s justification for the modification of the Contraception Mandate will fail to sway the Church.  The argument that it is not telling the Catholic Church to spend money on contraception, merely saving it money on paying for childbirth and children’s medical care is no different than China’s one child policy.  The Catholic Church believes that both are equally against Christ’s will and the church of St. Thomas Aquinas is not swayed by logic wrapped in accounting methods.  It will not comply.

Right now, as we speak, there are thousands of Catholic Churches in America each with a devout and humble person attending to the Eucharist.  This goes on every hour of every day of every year.  This sacrifice they make strengthens them to make other sacrifices, a communal strength community organizers can only dream of.  There may come a day when the Catholic Church seemingly has its back against the wall but don’t be fooled by its humility.  Humility is not weakness.  It has the strength of thousands of people who will stand for it and pray anywhere, anytime in community for Christ’s mission and even that strength pales in comparison to the strength of Christ.

On one side we have the Catholic Church on a point of its belief and on the other side we have Obama and his thought.  There is no doubt which will prevail.

COMMENTS

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  • Agelaius

    I find it inspiring that so many women continue to support Rick Santorum, and share with him the certainty that our culture of permissiveness has gone too far. No matter what the democrat party says, this next election will not be decided on contraception. Most women will still be able to access it in most jurisdictions if they want it and almost all women will be able to access contraception if they are willing to pay for it. Since the behaviors that lead to the requirement for contraception are voluntary, it does seem reasonable for women to cover the (minimal) cost.

    I understand some of the outrage on the part of a minority of women, but most of them are democrats anyway. The optics of the recent law in Virginia are bad, but the answer is in overturning Roe v Wade, not in incremental restrictions such as this law was intended to create. You can’t shame someone sufficiently with a probe if they already are far enough beyond shame to actually contemplate ending an unborn life. Pharmacists and health care providers should be able to follow their own religious beliefs and not be required to perform any act or dispense any medication that contradicts their spiritual beliefs.

    Yes, many Republican and independent women use contraception and some are even pro-abortion. Many resent what they feel is government intrusion into their reproductive lives. But Obamacare and socialized medicine is a greater intrusion into their private lives. Women are not fools – they will vote on the larger issues, like employment, economic growth, strong national security, and choices for where to send their children to school and more control over what they learn. Women confronted with the choice between Obamacare on the one hand, and the greater freedom of a less restricted health care industry, will decide that restrictions on insurance for contraception for those working with religious organizations is an acceptable price to pay. On the bigger issues, women and their families wish to live their lives unrestrained by federal government mandates.

    When it comes down to Obama versus our nominee, women will still vote for their long-term interests, and those of their families. The choice will be clear.